Panel to discuss effects of R.I. immigration order
11:04 AM Mon, Jan 12, 2009 | Permalink
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By HILARY RUSS PROVIDENCE (AP) -- A panel charged with studying the effects of Governor Carcieri's executive order on illegal immigration is to review this afternoon its initial findings after finishing a series of "listening sessions" statewide. The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Carcieri created the panel, which includes more than two dozen members, after signing a controversial order last March making it mandatory for companies that contract with the state to use the federal E-Verify database to check the immigration status of new hires and required state police and prison officials to identify immigration violators for possible deportation. Carcieri's order sparked immediate concern among clergy, immigrants' advocates and some community groups, which claimed the move created an atmosphere of fear and could lead to racial and ethnic profiling. During the panel's early "listening sessions," members heard similar stories from community members. At a meeting last year, for example, some panel members reported hearing that attendance at one Newport church had shrunk by half and immigrants were afraid to walk in the street for fear authorities would stop and question them because of their ethnicity. The sessions continued last fall with little public attention, in part because panel members pushed for privacy so people wouldn't feel afraid to come forward to speak. 
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Really, legal immigrants are worried about being questioned about their immigration status so they didn't go to church. My guess would be the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS were worried, and why shouldn't they be they are breaking the law. Go get em' ICE.
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Apparently, the Newport Church in question was harboring a substantial number of illegal aliens. Legal immigrants should have no fear of Police or of being questioned. This is simply the opt repeated self serving obstructionism to enforcing our immigration laws. Concern over arrest, or being apprehended, is the primary enforcement tool that reduces all law breaking, it's ridiculous to suggest that those guilty of breaking our immigration laws should not feel the same discomfort as other law breakers. America's citizens spoke clearly on this issue when we shouted down the egregious McCain/Kennedy Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation. Indeed, John McCain lost the election solely on this issue!
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Exactly. Law abiding citizens don't fear going to church. Benefit gobbling illegals do, and since we're broke, it's time for them to go home.
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"...and immigrants were afraid to walk in the street for fear authorities would stop and question them because of their ethnicity".
Afraid to walk the street? What a CROCK! They are in your face with all the demonstrations and DEMANDING, yes demanding AMNESTY! They snub their nose at our laws and laugh everytime they drop an ANCHOR.
I can’t say the ILLEGAL ALIENS are completely to blame for the shape of our economy, but they are a BIG part of the problem. The ILLEGAL ALIENS send BILLIONS upon BILLIONS out of this Country every year, money we will NEVER see again. Does this help our economy?
How about the BILLIONS the American taxpayers fork out for the ANCHOR BABIES, the schooling of them, the medical care and the list goes on, and on, and on.
How about the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS paid to jail ILLEGAL ALIENS for the crimes, then the cost to deport them. Does this help our economy?
TOTAL COST A YEAR FOR THESE 20 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS...$338.3 BILLION!!! Are you happy with that?
Then you have these so called activist groups that want AMNESTY for these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It would be absolute suicide for this Country if AMNESTY were granted to the 20 million or so ILLEGAL ALIENS. We have more and more people out of work everyday and they want to add another 20 million to this Country? I say, “NO”!
If AMNESTY were ever granted to these 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS, you can bet big money that 3 years from now, there would be ANOTHER 3-5 million ILLEGAL ALIENS demonstrating on our soil for AMNESTY. I don’t wish to lose my privilege on this site, so I will refrain from using the words that fit here.
An end MUST come to this illegal immigration. The perfect tool we have so far is E-Verify. It MUST be used by ALL businesses and Government Social Services. EVERY employee must be checked! If they are illegal, they are to be dismissed!
I believe it is time for all 50 States to pass a State law, like Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and a few others. It is time for these ILLEGAL ALIENS to go back to their home Country and get out of this Country. The problems they are causing will not go away until the ILLEGAL ALIENS are out of this Country. I think that is plain to see.
I back Carcieri 100%!
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